Information apparatus having an interface for a remote control

ABSTRACT

A control method causes a processor of an information apparatus to display an operation icon for causing an operation screen for an electric shutter device to be displayed. An operation screen is displayed which includes a shutter image representing a shutter of the electric shutter device when selection of the operation icon is sensed. When a swipe operation is sensed, a movement control command for moving the shutter in a swipe direction is outputted, and the shutter represented in the shutter image is moved in accordance with a swipe amount of the swipe operation. When stop information is received and the shutter represented in the shutter image is varied into a closed state, the shutter represented in the shutter image is retuned in a second direction opposite to a first direction which is a moving direction of the shutter represented in the shutter image.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of InternationalApplication No. PCT/JP2014/000772, filed Feb. 14, 2014, which claims thebenefit of U.S. Provisional application No. 61/766,843, filed Feb. 20,2013, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein intheir entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a method for controlling aninformation apparatus and a computer-readable recording medium.

BACKGROUND ART

A variety of proposals have been made for open/close control for ashutter of an electric shutter device.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology for operating anopen/close element of an architectural electric open/close device usinga remote operation device. Specifically, a remote operation unit 7 hasoperation switches PBU, PBD, and PBS for opening, closing, and stopping.The remote operation unit 7 outputs an operation signal in which adevice code that specifies a shutter device 1 as a control target and adata code that specifies operation (opening, closing, and stopping) of ashutter curtain are formed by one word (paragraphs [0009] and [0024]).In the case where an input operation signal is an open/close operationsignal, a receiving section 9 of an operation unit 8 enables open/closeoperation of a shutter curtain 2 when a predetermined number of words ofthe operation signal are input continuously. In the case where the inputoperation signal is a stop operation signal, on the other hand, thereceiving section 9 stops open/close operation of the shutter curtain 2when one word of the operation signal is input (paragraph [0025]).

However, Patent Documents 1 described above needs a further improvement.

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2011-94408(for example, paragraphs [0009], [0024], [0025] and the like)

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one general aspect, the techniques disclosed here feature a methodfor controlling an information apparatus, the information apparatushaving a touch panel display and being connected to a network, anelectric shutter device being controlled over the network, the electricshutter device being capable of opening and closing a shutter through aremote operation,

the method causing a computer of the information apparatus to:

display an operation icon on a display screen of the informationapparatus, the operation icon causing an operation screen for theelectric shutter device to be displayed;

display the operation screen for the electric shutter device whenselection of the operation icon is sensed, the operation screenincluding a shutter image representing the shutter of the electricshutter device; and

when a swipe operation is sensed on the operation screen, output to thenetwork a movement control command for moving the shutter of theelectric shutter device in a swipe direction of the swipe operation.

According to the aspect described above, it is possible to embody afurther improvement. These general and specific aspects may beimplemented using a system, a method, and a computer program, and anycombination of systems, methods, and computer programs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a shuttercontrol system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of anoperation terminal and an electric shutter device according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing an example of a configurationof an electric shutter device according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing another example of aconfiguration of an electric shutter device according to an embodimentof the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the form ofimplementation of the operation terminal according to an embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a display example of a menu screen displayedon a display for a case where a tablet is used as the operationterminal.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a display example of the menu screendisplayed on the display for a case where a smartphone is used as theoperation terminal.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a shutter select screendisplayed on the display of the operation terminal.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a shutter control screendisplayed on the display of the operation terminal.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of display on the shuttercontrol screen and an example of an operation by a contacting objectwhen opening the shutter.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of display on the shuttercontrol screen and an example of an operation by the contacting objectwhen closing the shutter.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a display example of the shutter controlscreen which is different from FIG. 10 and in which an actual positionof the shutter is displayed when opening the shutter.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a display example of the shutter controlscreen which is different from FIG. 11 and in which the actual positionof the shutter is displayed when closing the shutter.

FIG. 14 is a sequence diagram showing a process flow in the operationterminal and the electric shutter device.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a process flow for the operation terminalto control the electric shutter device.

FIG. 16A is a flowchart showing a process flow for the operationterminal to generate and transmit a control command for controlling theshutter of the electric shutter device.

FIG. 16B is a flowchart showing a process flow for the operationterminal to generate and transmit a control command for controlling theshutter of the electric shutter device.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a process flow in the electric shutterdevice.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a display example of the shutter controlscreen for a case where an obstacle is detected.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a display example of the shutter controlscreen that is different from FIG. 18 for a case where an obstacle isdetected.

FIG. 20 is a sequence diagram showing a process flow in the operationterminal and the electric shutter device for a case where obstacledetection is taken into consideration.

FIG. 21 is a sequence diagram showing a process flow in the operationterminal and the electric shutter device for a case where obstacledetection is taken into consideration.

FIG. 22 is a sequence diagram showing a process flow in the operationterminal and the electric shutter device that is different from FIG. 21for a case where obstacle detection is taken into consideration.

FIG. 23 is a sequence diagram showing a process flow in the operationterminal and the electric shutter device that is different from FIGS. 21and 22 for a case where obstacle detection is taken into consideration.

FIG. 24A is a flowchart showing a process flow for the operationterminal to control the shutter of the electric shutter device for acase where an obstacle is taken into consideration.

FIG. 24B is a flowchart showing a process flow for the operationterminal to control the shutter of the electric shutter device for acase where an obstacle is taken into consideration.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing a process flow in the electric shutterdevice for a case where an obstacle is taken into consideration.

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing an example, different from FIG. 9, of theshutter control screen displayed on the display of the operationterminal.

FIG. 27 is a diagram showing an example of display on the shuttercontrol screen and an example of an operation by a contacting objectwhen opening the shutter.

FIG. 28 is a diagram showing an example of display on the shuttercontrol screen and an example of an operation by the contacting objectwhen closing the shutter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Story Before Inventing Aspect According to PresentDisclosure

First, the point of view of an aspect according to the presentdisclosure will be described.

In Patent Document 1 described above, the remote operation unit 7 hasthe operation switches PBU, PBD, and PBS for opening, closing, andstopping. That is, the shutter of the electric shutter device is openedand closed by a user by pressing the operation switches of the remoteoperation unit 7. Therefore, in Patent Document 1, the shutter of theelectric shutter device is opened and closed through simple control inwhich an open operation signal, a close operation signal, or a stopoperation signal is transmitted by depressing the open operation button,the close operation button, or the stop button.

Moreover, the remote operation unit 7 does not have a display sectionthat displays the opening/closing condition of the shutter of theelectric shutter device. Therefore, the operating condition of theshutter of the electric shutter device cannot be confirmed at the sametime while operating to open, close, or stop the shutter of the electricshutter device. Thus, in the case where it is desired to open theshutter of the electric shutter device halfway and stop the shutter at adesired position, or in the case where it is desired to close theshutter halfway and stop the shutter at a desired position, for example,it is necessary to stay by the shutter of the electric shutter deviceand visually confirm the shutter position. That is, it cannot beremotely confirmed at what position the shutter of the electric shutterdevice is stopped.

In the case where the electric shutter device is provided at a window,for example, when sun rays are strong such as during summer, the shutterof the electric shutter device may be opened halfway to take sunlightinto a room while blocking the sun rays with the shutter half open. Insuch a case, with the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1described above, it is necessary to take the trouble to go near theelectric shutter device for visual confirmation, and the shutterposition cannot be appropriately controlled remotely.

In addition, the electric shutter device is different from devices of atype that is turned on and off to establish a desired state in that theelectric shutter device involves open/close operation. For example,there is a case where the shutter of the electric shutter device isopened halfway and further opened or closed for adjustment whileconfirming the position of the opened shutter. In this case, taking thetrouble to go near the electric shutter device for visual confirmationreduces the effect of a remote operation.

In addition, the size of the remote operation unit 7 is limited from theviewpoint of operability, and not necessarily satisfactory simplybecause the remote operation unit 7 can be provided with a displaysection. On the other hand, the remote operation unit 7 is unsuitablefor a process of finely adjusting opening and closing of the shutter ofthe electric shutter device unless the display section has a more orless large display area.

Based on the considerations described above, the inventors haveconceived various aspects of the present disclosure to be describedbelow.

An aspect of the present disclosure is

a method for controlling an information apparatus, the informationapparatus having a touch panel display and being connected to a network,an electric shutter device being controlled over the network, theelectric shutter device being capable of opening and closing a shutterthrough a remote operation,

the method causing a computer of the information apparatus to:

display an operation icon on a display screen of the informationapparatus, the operation icon causing an operation screen for theelectric shutter device to be displayed;

display the operation screen for the electric shutter device whenselection of the operation icon is sensed, the operation screenincluding a shutter image representing the shutter of the electricshutter device; and

when a swipe operation is sensed on the operation screen, output to thenetwork a movement control command for moving the shutter of theelectric shutter device in a swipe direction of the swipe operation.

According to the aspect, when the operation screen for the electricshutter device is displayed, a shutter image representing the shutter ofthe electric shutter device appears on the operation screen. Then, whena swipe operation is sensed on the shutter image, for example, on theoperation screen, control is performed so as to move the shutter of theelectric shutter device in a swipe direction of the swipe operation.

This enables remotely controlling the operation of the shutter of theelectric shutter device which is not a device in which power is simplyturned on and off.

Movement of the shutter of the electric shutter device is controlledthrough the swipe operation, for example. Therefore, the shutter of theelectric shutter device may be not only opened completely but alsoopened halfway. For example, when sun rays are strong such as duringsummer, the shutter of the electric shutter device may be opened to anintermediate position to take sunlight into a room while blocking thesun rays with the shutter opened halfway. Also in this case, the shutterof the electric shutter device can be opened to an intermediateposition.

For example, there is a case where the shutter of the electric shutterdevice is opened halfway and further opened or closed while confirmingthe opened state. Also in this case, the open-close state of the shutterof the electric shutter device can be confirmed on the operation screenwhile performing an operation of moving the shutter of the electricshutter device. That is, the operation screen also serves as aconfirmation screen for confirmation as to what position the shutter isopened to in accordance with an instruction given by the user byperforming an operation of the operation screen. Thus, the operationinstruction screen and the moving state confirmation screen are commonto each other. Therefore, it is possible to effectively process anoperation of moving the shutter of the electric shutter device and tomake the most of the display area of the operation screen.

Further, as described above, the operation screen also serves as displayfor confirmation of the open/close state of the shutter. Thus, theoperation screen can be used not only to stop the shutter of theelectric shutter device in the middle of being opened and closed, butalso to confirm that an instruction to stop the shutter at a desiredposition has been given at the same time. As a result, for example,opening and closing of the shutter of the electric shutter device can bestopped without the shutter moving past the desired position. Inaddition, for example, the open/close position of the shutter of theelectric shutter device can be finely adjusted.

In the aspect described above, for example, a distance control commandmay be output to the network as the movement control command when theswipe operation is sensed on the operation screen, the distance controlcommand causing the shutter of the electric shutter device to move inthe swipe direction a distance in accordance with an amount of movementin the swipe direction of the swipe operation.

Consequently, movement of the shutter of the electric shutter device iscontrolled through the swipe operation. Therefore, the shutter of theelectric shutter device may be not only opened completely but alsoopened halfway.

In the aspect described above, for example, movement of the shutter ofthe electric shutter device may comprise movement to open the shutter ofthe electric shutter device or movement to close the shutter of theelectric shutter device.

In the aspect described above, for example, the electric shutter devicemay have the shutter which opens or closes in one direction.

In the aspect described above, for example, when the swipe operation issensed on the operation screen, the shutter represented in the shutterimage may be moved in accordance with a swipe amount in the swipedirection of the swipe operation.

This allows an operation of moving the shutter of the electric shutterdevice and confirmation of the moving state of the shutter of theelectric shutter device to be performed on the operation screen for theelectric shutter device in accordance with the shutter imagerepresenting the shutter of the electric shutter device. Thus, theoperation screen for the electric shutter device and the confirmationscreen for the electric shutter device are integral with each other.Therefore, the open/close state of the electric shutter device can beconfirmed by making the most of the size of the operation screen.

In the aspect described above, for example,

the shutter image may comprise an image representing the shutter of theelectric shutter device used as a storm sash provided at a window, andin a case where the shutter represented in the shutter image is moved inan opening direction, a window image representing the window which hasbeen hidden behind the shutter of the electric shutter device may bedisplayed in a region corresponding to the shutter image.

For example, in the case where the shutter of the electric shutterdevice is used for a plurality of purposes, it may not be discriminatedwhat purpose the shutter of the electric shutter device as the operationtarget is used for, and a shutter of an electric shutter device that isdifferent from the shutter of the intended electric shutter device maybe erroneously operated. For example, the shutter of the electricshutter device used as a storm sash provided at a window, for example,may be erroneously opened when it is intended to open the shutter of theelectric shutter device used as a gate provided in a garage.

According to the aspect, in a case where the shutter represented in theshutter image is moved in an opening direction, a window imagerepresenting the window which has been hidden behind the shutter of theelectric shutter device is displayed. Therefore, an erroneous operationcan be known through the same screen as the operation screen in the casewhere the moving state of the shutter of the electric shutter device isconfirmed through the operation screen. As a result, it is possible toeasily prevent an erroneous operation even in the case where the movingstate of the shutter of the electric shutter device is confirmed throughthe operation screen rather than being confirmed with the shutter of theelectric shutter device as a real object.

In the aspect described above, for example,

in a case where the shutter represented in the shutter image is moved ina closing direction, the window image may be hidden behind the shutterrepresented in the shutter image.

In the aspect described above, for example,

the shutter image may comprise an image representing the shutter of theelectric shutter device used as a gate provided in a garage, and in acase where the shutter represented in the shutter image is moved in anopening direction, a vehicle image representing a vehicle in the garagewhich has been hidden behind the shutter of the electric shutter devicemay be displayed in a region corresponding to the shutter image.

For example, in a case where the shutter of the electric shutter deviceis used for a plurality of purposes, it may not be discriminated whatpurpose the shutter of the electric shutter device as the operationtarget is used for, and the shutter of an electric shutter device thatis different from the shutter of the intended electric shutter devicemay be erroneously operated. For example, the shutter of the electricshutter device used as a gate provided in a garage, for example, may beerroneously opened when it is intended to operate to open the shutter ofthe electric shutter device used as a storm sash provided at a window.

According to the aspect, in a case where the shutter represented in theshutter image is moved in an opening direction, a vehicle imagerepresenting a vehicle in the garage which has been hidden behind theshutter of the electric shutter device is displayed. Therefore, anerroneous operation can be known through the same screen as theoperation screen in the case where the moving state of the shutter ofthe electric shutter device is confirmed through the operation screen.As a result, it is possible to easily prevent an erroneous operationeven in the case where the moving state of the shutter of the electricshutter device is confirmed through the operation screen rather thanbeing confirmed with the shutter of the electric shutter device as areal object.

In the aspect described above, for example,

in a case where the shutter represented in the shutter image is moved ina closing direction, the vehicle image may be hidden behind the shutterin the shutter image.

In the aspect described above, for example,

positional information indicating a position of the shutter of theelectric shutter device may be received via the network, and stateinformation representing a position of an end portion of the shutter ofthe electric shutter device may be displayed in a region correspondingto the shutter image in accordance with the received positionalinformation.

According to the aspect, state information representing the position ofthe end portion of the shutter of the electric shutter device isdisplayed in a region corresponding to the shutter image representingthe shutter of the electric shutter device besides an image representingto what location the shutter of the electric shutter device is moved byan operation of the operation screen.

For example, there may be a case where a gap is present between theshutter image representing the shutter of the electric shutter device inthe operation screen and the actual position to which the shutter of theelectric shutter device has been moved. Also in such a case, the user isallowed to recognize the presence of the gap by confirming the stateinformation representing the position of the end portion of the shutterof the electric shutter device.

Therefore, for example, a gap is present between the moving speed of theshutter in the shutter image on the operation screen and the actualmoving speed of the shutter of the electric shutter device. Therefore,it may be erroneously recognized that the shutter of the electricshutter device is closed even if the shutter of the electric shutterdevice is actually not closed yet. Such an erroneous recognition can beprevented just by confirming display on the operation screen.

As a result, the operation screen functions not only to represent towhat location the shutter of the electric shutter device is moved by anoperation of the operation screen, but also as a confirmation screen forconfirming the actual position to which the shutter of the electricshutter device has been moved. Thus, the actual position to which theshutter of the electric shutter device has been moved can be confirmedusing the operation screen without confirming the actual shutter of theelectric shutter device.

In the aspect described above, for example,

the state information representing the position of the end portion ofthe shutter of the electric shutter device may be displayed asoverlapped on the shutter image.

According to the aspect, the state information representing the positionof the end portion of the shutter of the electric shutter device isdisplayed as overlapped on the shutter image representing the shutter ofthe electric shutter device. This allows the user to confirm theposition of the end portion of the shutter of the electric shutterdevice with the user's eyes keeping on confirming the shutter imagerepresenting the shutter of the electric shutter device. Therefore, theactual position of the end portion of the shutter of the electricshutter device can be confirmed while performing an operation on theoperation screen at the same time as the operation.

For example, there may be a case where a gap is present between theshutter image representing the shutter of the electric shutter device inthe operation screen and the actual position to which the shutter of theelectric shutter device has been moved. Also in such a case, it ispossible to prevent an erroneous recognition that the shutter of theelectric shutter device is closed even if the shutter of the electricshutter device is actually not closed yet because of failing to confirmthe actual position of the end portion of the shutter of the electricshutter device.

In the aspect described above, for example,

the state information representing the position of the end portion ofthe shutter of the electric shutter device may include a schematicshutter movement image representing the position of the end portion ofthe shutter of the electric shutter device.

According to the aspect, a schematic shutter movement image representingthe position of the end portion of the shutter of the electric shutterdevice is displayed as overlapped on the shutter image representing theshutter of the electric shutter device. This allows the user torecognize a gap, if any, that is present between the shutter imagerepresenting the shutter of the electric shutter device in the operationscreen and the actual position of the end portion of the shutter of theelectric shutter device, for example, at a glance. Therefore, theoperation screen can be used not only to perform the operation but alsoto confirm the operation instruction and confirm the actual position ofthe shutter of the electric shutter device on the same screen.

In the aspect described above, for example,

the schematic shutter movement image may be displayed in a color that isdifferent from a color in which the shutter in the shutter image isdisplayed.

In the aspect described above, for example,

the electric shutter device may have a sensor which senses an obstacleahead of an end portion of the shutter which moves, and a mechanismwhich stops movement of the shutter in a case where the obstacle issensed ahead of the end portion of the shutter which moves, and

the method for controlling the information apparatus may cause thecomputer of the information apparatus to:

in a case where stop information, which indicates that movement of theshutter of the electric shutter device has been stopped before theshutter reaches a closed position, is received via the network, and in acase where the shutter represented in the shutter image is varied into aclosed state,

return the shutter represented in the shutter image in a seconddirection opposite to a first direction which is a moving direction ofthe shutter represented in the shutter image.

For example, there may be a case where movement of the actual shutter ofthe electric shutter device is stopped because of sensing of an obstacleor the like, even in the case where an image in which the shutterrepresented in the shutter image is closed is displayed on the operationscreen. In this case, a gap is present between the state indicated bythe image displayed on the operation screen and the actual state of theshutter of the electric shutter device.

In this way, there may be a case where movement of the shutter of theelectric shutter device is stopped before the actual shutter reaches theclosed position, even in the case where the image on the operationscreen has been varied into an image in which the shutter represented inthe shutter image is closed. In such a case, according to the aspect,the shutter represented in the shutter image is returned in a seconddirection that is opposite to a first direction which is a movingdirection of the shutter represented in the shutter image.

This causes the image on the operation screen to return to an imagereflecting the actual state of the shutter of the electric shutterdevice even if an image in which the shutter represented in the shutterimage is closed is temporarily displayed on the operation screen inaccordance with an operation of the operation screen. Therefore, the gapthat is present between the state indicated by the image displayed onthe operation screen and the actual state of the shutter of the electricshutter device can be eliminated. In addition, the user can be informedof the actual state of the shutter of the electric shutter device byconfirming the operation screen. As a result, it is possible to preventan erroneous recognition of the actual state of the shutter of theelectric shutter device just by confirming the operation screen withouttaking the trouble to confirm the actual shutter of the electric shutterdevice.

In the aspect described above, for example,

the shutter represented in the shutter image may be returned in thesecond direction by a first predetermined amount corresponding to a stopposition of the shutter of the electric shutter device, indicated by thestop information.

Examples of the sensor that senses presence of an obstacle ahead of anend portion of the shutter, which is moving, of the electric shutterdevice include a contact sensor and an optical sensor. In the case wherethe contact sensor is used, the shutter is not advanced any further whenthe moving shutter contacts an obstacle, and presence of the obstacle isjudged.

Meanwhile, the optical sensor is attached at a predetermined position ona moving path of the shutter in the electric shutter device. Therefore,in the case where the optical sensor is used, movement of the shutter isstopped if the optical sensor senses presence of an obstacle at thepredetermined position before the shutter contacts the obstacle. If anobstacle is present at the predetermined position before movement of theshutter is started, moving operation of the shutter is not performed. Inthe case where an obstacle is sensed at the predetermined position whilethe shutter is moving, movement of the shutter is stopped.

According to the aspect, the shutter represented in the shutter imagemay be returned in the second direction by a first predetermined amountcorresponding to a stop position of the shutter of the electric shutterdevice, indicated by the stop information.

In the case where the contact sensor is used, for example, when theshutter starts moving and contacts an obstacle while moving, the shutteris stopped at the position of contact. In this case, the shutterrepresented in the shutter image is returned to a display positioncorresponding to the actual position at which the shutter is stopped.

In the case where the optical sensor is used, for example, movement ofthe actual shutter of the electric shutter device is not started if anobstacle is present at the predetermined position before the shutterstarts moving. Thus, the shutter represented in the shutter image isreturned to the open state of the shutter.

In the case where the optical sensor is used, for example, in the casewhere an obstacle is sensed at the predetermined position while theshutter is moving, the shutter is stopped while moving. In this case,the shutter represented in the shutter image is returned to a displayposition corresponding to the actual position at which the shutter ofthe electric shutter device is stopped.

In the aspect described above, for example,

in a case where the shutter represented in the shutter image is returnedin the second direction by the first predetermined amount,

the end portion of the shutter represented in the shutter image may berepeatedly moved alternately in the first direction and the seconddirection.

According to the aspect, in a case where the shutter represented in theshutter image is returned, the end portion of the shutter represented inthe shutter image is repeatedly moved alternately in the first directionand the second direction. This allows distinction on display from a casewhere the shutter of the electric shutter device is closed to theposition by an operation performed by the user using the operationscreen. There is a case where movement of the actual shutter of theelectric shutter device is stopped because of sensing of an obstacle orthe like. In such a case, the user can be easily alerted just by thedisplay without using other dedicated means for warning the user of thestoppage while avoiding confusion with a case where the shutter isclosed to the position by an operation performed by the user.

In the aspect described above, for example,

in a case where the stop information indicates that the shutter of theelectric shutter device is closed beyond a predetermined referenceamount, the shutter represented in the shutter image may be returned inthe second direction by a second predetermined amount.

The shutter image representing the shutter of the electric shutterdevice displayed on the operation screen is smaller than the actualshutter of the electric shutter device. In the case where the actualshutter is stopped at a position at which the shutter is closed by about90%, for example, it is conceivable to vary the shutter represented inthe shutter image displayed on the operation screen into an image inwhich the shutter is closed by about 90%.

In this case, however, the user may not be able to definitely confirmwhether the shutter image representing the shutter of the electricshutter device being displayed indicates a state in which the shutter isclosed by 100% or a state in which the shutter is closed to about 90%,even if the user sees the operation screen, because the image is small.As a result, the user may see the operation screen and erroneouslyrecognize that the actual shutter is fully closed even if the actualshutter is not fully closed because of an obstacle.

According to the aspect, in a case where the stop information indicatesthat the shutter of the electric shutter device is closed beyond apredetermined reference amount, for example, the shutter represented inthe shutter image is returned in the second direction by a secondpredetermined amount.

This allows the shutter in the shutter image representing the shutter ofthe electric shutter device being displayed to be returned by the secondpredetermined amount to a state in which the shutter is closed by about70% in the case where the actual shutter is stopped at a position atwhich the shutter is closed by about 90% which exceeds the predeterminedreference amount, for example. Therefore, it can be definitely indicatedthat the actual shutter is stopped in the middle position, even in thecase where the actual shutter is stopped at a position at which theshutter is closed by about 90%, by returning the shutter represented inthe shutter image. As a result, the user can be prevented, by simplemeans, from erroneously recognizing that the actual shutter is fullyclosed by seeing the operation screen even if the actual shutter is notfully closed because of an obstacle.

In the aspect described above, for example,

in a case where the shutter represented in the shutter image is returnedin the second direction by the second predetermined amount,

the end portion of the shutter represented in the shutter image may berepeatedly moved alternately in the first direction and the seconddirection.

According to the aspect, in a case where the shutter represented in theshutter image is returned, the end portion of the shutter represented inthe shutter image is repeatedly moved alternately in the first directionand the second direction. This allows distinction on display from a casewhere the shutter of the electric shutter device is closed to theposition by an operation performed by the user using the operationscreen. There is a case where movement of the actual shutter of theelectric shutter device is stopped because of sensing of an obstacle orthe like. In such a case, the user can be easily alerted just by thedisplay without using other dedicated means for warning the user of thestoppage while avoiding confusion with a case where the shutter isclosed to the position by an operation performed by the user.

Embodiment

An embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below withreference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same symbols are usedfor the same constituent elements.

In the embodiment, an operation terminal which can remotely controlshutter will be described.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a shuttercontrol system according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, theshutter control system includes an operation terminal 100, and electricshutter devices 200, 201, and 202.

The electric shutter device 200 is disposed outside of a house. Theoperation terminal 100 and the electric shutter devices 201 and 202 aredisposed inside the house. The operation terminal 100 and the electricshutter devices 200, 201, and 202 communicate with each other via awired or wireless network 300. For example, the electric shutter devices200, 201, and 202 and the operation terminal 100 are communicablyconnected to each other via the wireless or wired in-home network 300.The network 300 may be an external network such as the Internet.

The operation terminal 100 is not necessarily disposed in the house, andmay be disposed outside the house. In this case, a user controls theelectric shutter devices 200, 201, and 202 from a location away from thehome.

An information terminal such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal may beadopted as the operation terminal 100. It should be noted, however, thatthe smartphone and the tablet terminal are merely exemplary, and aninformation terminal of a button type such as a cellular phone may beadopted as the operation terminal 100.

In the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, three electric shutter devices200, 201, and 202 are provided. However, this is exemplary.Alternatively, one, two, or four or more electric shutter devices may beprovided.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of theoperation terminal 100 and the electric shutter devices 200, 201, and202. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing an example of aconfiguration of the electric shutter device 200. FIG. 4 is a diagramschematically showing an example of a configuration of the electricshutter device 201. As shown in FIG. 2, the operation terminal 100includes a display 101, a touch panel control section 102, a displaycontrol section 103, a storage section 104, a shutter control section105, and a communication control section 106.

The display 101 is formed from a touch panel display, for example, anddisplays a user interface that allows the user to operate the operationterminal 100. The user can input various operations to the operationterminal 100 by contacting the display 101.

The touch panel control section 102 recognizes an operation performed onthe display 101 by the user, interprets the content of the operation,and notifies the other constituent elements of the content of theoperation. For example, if an object is displayed at a position on thedisplay 101 tapped on by the user, the touch panel control section 102judges that the object is selected by the user. A variety of GUI(Graphical User Interface) parts that receive a user operation such asbuttons are adopted as the object.

The display control section 103 generates a GUI of the operationterminal 100, and causes the display 101 to display the GUI. The storagesection 104 stores information that is necessary for operation of theoperation terminal 100 such as the type and the arrangement of theshutter which is the operation target.

The shutter control section 105 generates a control command for each ofthe electric shutter devices 200, 201, and 202. The communicationcontrol section 106 controls communication between the operationterminal 100 and the electric shutter devices 200, 201, and 202. Inaddition, the communication control section 106 receives a request totransmit a variety of data from other blocks such as the shutter controlsection 105, and transmits the received data to the electric shutterdevices 200, 201, and 202. Further, the communication control section106 receives data transmitted from the electric shutter devices 200,201, and 202, and delivers the received data to relevant blocks such asthe shutter control section 105.

The display 101 may be a normal display rather than a touch paneldisplay. In this case, the user may use an external input device such asa mouse (not shown) to input an instruction to select an object bymoving a pointer displayed on the display 101 and clicking on a desiredobject. That is, in the embodiment, a series of operations performed bythe user by contacting the display 101 may be replaced with operationsof moving a pointer and clicking using an external input device such asa mouse.

As shown in FIG. 3, the electric shutter device 200 is provided in agarage 310. The electric shutter device 200 includes a control unit 210,a shutter 220 used as a gate to the garage 310, and so forth. Theelectric shutter device 200 is a device that enables the shutter 220 tobe electrically opened and closed through a remote operation. As shownin FIG. 4, the electric shutter device 201 is provided at a window 320.The electric shutter device 201 includes a control unit 210, a shutter230 used as a storm sash, and so forth. The electric shutter device 201is a device that enables the shutter 230 to be electrically opened andclosed through a remote operation.

As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 210 includes a drive section 211, aposition sensor 212, a shutter control section 213, a communicationcontrol section 214, and an obstacle sensor 215. The drive section 211includes a motor capable of rotating in forward and reverse directions,for example, to open and close the shutter 220.

The position sensor 212 detects the open/close state (position) of theshutter 220. The position sensor 212 specifically detects the positionof an end portion of the shutter 220, for example, as the open/closestate of the shutter 220. The position sensor 212 includes an encoderattached to a rotary shaft of the motor of the drive section 211, therotary shaft being coupled to the shutter 220.

Alternatively, in the case where the drive section 211 includes astepping motor, the position sensor 212 may count the number of steps ofthe stepping motor driven when opening and closing the shutter 220. Theposition sensor 212 may be any unit that can detect the open/close stateof the shutter 220.

As shown in FIG. 3, the obstacle sensor 215 is provided on a right wallimmediately outside the gate (shutter 220) of the garage 310, forexample. A reflection plate is provided on a left wall immediatelyoutside the gate (shutter 220) of the garage 310 at a position oppositeto the obstacle sensor 215. The obstacle sensor 215 includes a lightemitting section and a light receiving section, for example. The lightreceiving section of the obstacle sensor 215 receives light emitted fromthe light emitting section and reflected by the reflection plate. Theobstacle sensor 215 is of an optical type, and thus can detect anobstacle when the obstacle appears, whether before the shutter 220starts being closed or while the shutter 220 is being closed.

The shutter control section 213 controls opening and closing of theshutter 220 of the electric shutter device 200 in accordance with acontrol command transmitted from the operation terminal 100. Inaddition, the shutter control section 213 requests the communicationcontrol section 214 to transmit the result of execution of the controlcommand, the open/close state of the shutter 220 of the electric shutterdevice 200, and so forth to the operation terminal 100.

The shutter control section 213 judges that an obstacle is interposedbetween the light emitting section and the reflection plate in the casewhere the light receiving section of the obstacle sensor 215 cannotreceive the reflected light. If it is judged on the basis of the resultof detection performed by the obstacle sensor 215 that there is anobstacle, the shutter control section 213 controls the drive section 211so as not to start operation to close the shutter 220 if the shutter 220has not started being closed, and so as to stop operation to close theshutter 220 if the shutter 220 is being closed.

The communication control section 214 controls communication between theelectric shutter device 200 and the operation terminal 100. In addition,the communication control section 214 receives a request to transmit avariety of data from the shutter control section 213, and transmits suchdata to the operation terminal 100. The communication control section214 receives data transmitted from the operation terminal 100, anddelivers the data to the shutter control section 213.

The light emitting section and the light receiving section of theobstacle sensor 215 may be disposed on the left and right wallsimmediately outside the gate (shutter 220) of the garage 310 so as tooppose each other. In this case, the reflection plate is not required.The shutter control section 213 judges that an obstacle is interposedbetween the light emitting section and the light receiving section inthe case where the light receiving section of the obstacle sensor 215cannot receive light from the light emitting section.

The obstacle sensor 215 is not limited to an optical type.Alternatively, the obstacle sensor 215 may be of a contact type. Anobstacle sensor of a contact type detects a load applied to the drivesection 211 which moves the shutter 220. The shutter control section 213judges that there is an obstacle when an end portion of the shutter 220moving in the closing direction contacts an obstacle and the loadapplied to the drive section 211 detected by the obstacle sensor of acontact type is increased. In the case where an obstacle sensor of acontact type is used, the shutter control section 213 can determine thatthere is an obstacle only after the shutter 220 starts moving in theclosing direction and contacts an obstacle.

The electric shutter device 200 may include both an obstacle sensor ofan optical type and an obstacle sensor of a contact type as the obstaclesensor 215. In addition, the obstacle sensor 215 may be a sensor of anyother type that can detect an obstacle.

The electric shutter devices 201 and 202 are the same in electricalconfiguration as the electric shutter device 200 shown in FIG. 2. Theelectric shutter device 200 is provided in the garage 310, for example,as described above. The electric shutter device 201 is disposed in aliving room, for example. The electric shutter device 202 is disposed ina Japanese room, for example.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the form ofimplementation of the operation terminal 100. As shown in FIG. 5, theoperation terminal 100 includes an application 401, an OS (OperatingSystem) 402, a memory 403, and other hardware (not shown).

The application 401 is application software for causing the informationterminal to function as the operation terminal 100, and is executed by aprocessor of the operation terminal 100. The operation terminal 100 mayread the application 401 from a computer readable recording medium toimplement the application 401, or may download the application 401 froma network to implement the application 401. The OS 402 is basic softwareof the information terminal, and is executed by the processor of theoperation terminal 100. The memory 403 is formed from a storage devicesuch as a RAM and a ROM of the operation terminal 100, and stores agroup of data included in the application 401. The processor of theoperation terminal 100 executes the application 401 to embody thefunctions of the touch panel control section 102, the display controlsection 103, the storage section 104, the shutter control section 105,and the communication control section 106 shown in FIG. 2. In addition,the processor of the operation terminal 100 executes the application 401to cause the memory 403 to function as the storage section 104.

It should be noted, however, that in the embodiment, the operationterminal 100 may be implemented by the application 401 alone, may beimplemented by the application 401 and the OS 402, may be implemented bythe application 401, the OS 402, and the memory 403, or may beimplemented by the application 401, the OS 402, the memory 403, andother hardware (not shown). In any embodiment, the operation terminal100 according to the embodiment can be embodied. In the embodiment, theprocessor and the storage device forming the information terminal, forexample, form a computer. One of a CPU, an FPGA, and an ASIC or acombination of two or more of these may be adopted as the processor. Oneof a ROM, a RAM, and a hard disk or a combination of two or more ofthese may be adopted as the storage device.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a display example of a menu screen displayedon the display 101 for a case where a tablet is used as the operationterminal 100. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a display example of a menuscreen displayed on the display 101 for a case where a smartphone isused as the operation terminal 100. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the menuscreen displayed on the display 101 of the operation terminal 100includes a shutter icon 111. The shutter icon 111 is an operation iconfor starting the application 401 for electric shutter control. Theshutter icon 111 includes an image schematically representing a shutter.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a shutter select screen 400displayed on the display 101 of the operation terminal 100. When theuser selects the shutter icon 111 with a contacting object (for example,one finger of the user) in the menu screen shown in FIG. 6 or 7, thetouch panel control section 102 senses the selection. Then, theapplication 401 for electric shutter control is started, and the displaycontrol section 103 displays the shutter select screen 400 correspondingto the shutter icon 111 on the display 101 as shown in FIG. 8.

The shutter select screen 400 includes select buttons 405A, 405B, and405C, a set button 406, and an end button 407. A text “SELECT SHUTTER”is affixed to the shutter select screen 400. The configuration allowsthe user to easily understand that the screen displayed on the display101 is a screen for selecting an electric shutter device.

The select button 405A is an operation button for selecting the electricshutter device 200 in the garage 310. The select button 405B is anoperation button for selecting the electric shutter device 201 in theliving room. The select button 405C is an operation button for selectingthe electric shutter device 202 in the Japanese room. The select buttons405A, 405B, and 405C are operation icons for displaying a shuttercontrol screen for the electric shutter devices 200, 201, and 202,respectively.

The set button 406 is an operation button for making a variety ofsettings. The set button 406 is used to associate a select button and ashutter as the operation target with each other, for example. The setbutton 406 is used to set a name given to a select button, for example.

The end button 407 is an operation button for ending the application 401for electric shutter control. When the user selects the end button 407with a contacting object (for example, one finger of the user), thetouch panel control section 102 senses the selection. Then, theapplication 401 for electric shutter control is ended, and the displaycontrol section 103 restores a state in which the menu screen isdisplayed on the display 101 as shown in FIG. 6 or 7.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a shutter control screen 410displayed on the display 101 of the operation terminal 100. The shuttercontrol screen 410 shown in FIG. 9 is an operation screen that allowsperforming an open/close operation for the shutter 220 of the electricshutter device 200. As described above, the shutter 220 is used as agate provided in the garage 310.

The shutter control screen 410 includes a return button 411, and ashutter image 412 representing the shutter 220 of the electric shutterdevice 200. The shutter image 412 includes a shutter 412 a. In addition,a text “GARAGE SHUTTER” is affixed to the shutter control screen 410 inFIG. 9. This allows the user to easily understand that the screen is acontrol screen for a shutter used as a gate provided in the garage.

When the user selects the select button 405A with a contacting object(for example, one finger of the user) in the shutter select screen 400shown in FIG. 8, the touch panel control section 102 senses theselection. Then, as shown in FIG. 9, the display control section 103displays the shutter control screen 410 corresponding to the selectbutton 405A on the display 101.

Moreover, when the user selects the return button 411 with thecontacting object in the shutter control screen 410 shown in FIG. 9, thetouch panel control section 102 senses the selection. Then, the displaycontrol section 103 returns the display on the display 101 to theshutter select screen 400 shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of display on the shuttercontrol screen 410 and an example of an operation by a contacting object150 when opening the shutter 220. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing anexample of display on the shutter control screen 410 and an example ofan operation by the contacting object 150 when closing the shutter 220.

First, an operation of opening the shutter 220 of the electric shutterdevice 200 will be described with reference to FIG. 10. The shutterimage 412 in which the shutter 412 a is fully closed is displayed (theupper left diagram of FIG. 10). In this state, the touch panel controlsection 102 senses an upward swipe operation by the contacting object150 (for example, one finger of the user) on the shutter control screen410 (the upper left diagram to the upper middle diagram of FIG. 10).

Then, the display control section 103 moves the shutter 412 a within theshutter image 412 in the opening direction in accordance with movementof the contacting object 150 (the upper middle diagram of FIG. 10). Atthis time, the display control section 103 displays a vehicle image 413representing a vehicle in the garage which has been hidden behind theshutter in a region corresponding to the shutter image 412 as theshutter 412 a within the shutter image 412 is opened (the upper middlediagram of FIG. 10).

In the upper middle diagram of FIG. 10, the lower half of the vehicleimage 413 has appeared. In order to achieve image display such as thatin the upper middle diagram of FIG. 10, for example, the shutter 412 awithin the shutter image 412 may be provided in a first layer, thevehicle image 413 may be provided in a second layer, and the order ofpriority for image display of the first layer may be made higher thanthat of the second layer.

Further, if the upward swipe operation by the contacting object 150 iscontinued, the touch panel control section 102 senses the swipeoperation (the upper middle diagram to the upper right diagram of FIG.10). Then, when the shutter 412 a within the shutter image 412 is fullyopen, the display control section 103 erases the shutter 412 a, anddisplays the vehicle image 413 representing the entire vehicle (theupper right diagram of FIG. 10).

When the touch panel control section 102 senses an upward swipeoperation by the contacting object 150 on the shutter control screen410, the shutter control section 105 generates a control command(corresponding to an example of the movement control command) foropening the shutter 220 of the electric shutter device 200. At thistime, the shutter control section 105 decides the target position forthe opening shutter on the basis of the amount of movement of the swipeoperation by the contacting object 150.

When the user finishes the upward swipe operation in the state shown inthe upper middle diagram of FIG. 10, for example, the shutter controlsection 105 decides a position at which the shutter is half open as thetarget position for the opening shutter. In this case, the displaycontrol section 103 renders the shutter 412 a within the shutter image412 half open as shown in the upper middle diagram of FIG. 10. Displayof the shutter 412 a allows the user to easily understand the targetposition for the shutter.

When the user finishes the upward swipe operation in the state shown inthe upper right diagram of FIG. 10, for example, the shutter controlsection 105 decides a position at which the shutter is fully open as thetarget position for opening and closing of the shutter. In this case,the display control section 103 erases the shutter 412 a within theshutter image 412 as shown in the upper right diagram of FIG. 10 toindicate that the target position for opening and closing of the shutteris the fully open position.

When the target position is decided, the shutter control section 105generates a control command for opening the shutter 220 to the decidedtarget position. The shutter control section 105 generates a controlcommand corresponding to the decided target position. That is, theshutter control section 105 generates a control command (correspondingto an example of the distance control command) for opening the shutter220 of the electric shutter device 200 for a distance corresponding tothe amount of movement of the swipe operation by the contacting object150.

The communication control section 106 transmits the generated controlcommand to the control unit 210 of the electric shutter device 200. Theshutter control section 213 of the electric shutter device 200 receivesthe control command transmitted from the operation terminal 100 via thecommunication control section 214. The shutter control section 213controls the drive section 211 to start operation of opening the shutter220 in accordance with the received control command. The lower leftdiagram, the lower middle diagram, and the lower right diagram of FIG.10 will be described later.

Next, an operation of closing the shutter 220 of the electric shutterdevice 200 will be described with reference to FIG. 11. The shutterimage 412 in which the shutter is fully open is displayed, and thevehicle image 413 representing the entire vehicle in the garage isdisplayed in a region corresponding to the shutter image 412 (the upperleft diagram of FIG. 11). In this state, the touch panel control section102 senses a downward swipe operation by the contacting object 150 onthe shutter control screen 410 (the upper left diagram to the uppermiddle diagram of FIG. 11).

Then, the display control section 103 moves the shutter 412 a within theshutter image 412 in the closing direction in accordance with movementof the contacting object 150 (the upper middle diagram of FIG. 11). Atthis time, the display control section 103 hides the vehicle image 413displayed in the region corresponding to the shutter image 412 behindthe shutter 412 a as the shutter 412 a within the shutter image 412 isclosed (the upper middle diagram of FIG. 11).

In the upper middle diagram of FIG. 11, the upper half of the vehicleimage 413 is hidden behind the shutter 412 a. In order to achieve imagedisplay such as that in the upper middle diagram of FIG. 11, asdescribed above, for example, the shutter 412 a within the shutter image412 may be provided in a first layer, the vehicle image 413 may beprovided in a second layer, and the order of priority for image displayof the first layer may be made higher than that of the second layer.

Further, if the downward swipe operation by the contacting object 150 iscontinued, the touch panel control section 102 senses the swipeoperation (the upper middle diagram to the upper right diagram of FIG.11). Then, when the shutter 412 a within the shutter image 412 is fullyclosed, the display control section 103 erases the vehicle image 413(the upper right diagram of FIG. 11).

When the touch panel control section 102 senses a downward swipeoperation by the contacting object 150 on the shutter control screen410, the shutter control section 105 generates a control command(corresponding to an example of the movement control command) forclosing the shutter 220 of the electric shutter device 200. At thistime, the shutter control section 105 decides the target position forthe closing shutter on the basis of the amount of movement of the swipeoperation by the contacting object 150.

When the user finishes the downward swipe operation in the state shownin the upper middle diagram of FIG. 11, for example, the shutter controlsection 105 decides a position at which the shutter is half closed asthe target position for the closing shutter. In this case, the displaycontrol section 103 renders the shutter 412 a within the shutter image412 half closed as shown in the upper middle diagram of FIG. 11.

When the user finishes the downward swipe operation in the state shownin the upper right diagram of FIG. 11, for example, the shutter controlsection 105 decides a position at which the shutter is fully closed asthe target position for the closing shutter. In this case, the displaycontrol section 103 renders the shutter 412 a within the shutter image412 fully closed as shown in the upper right diagram of FIG. 11.

When the target position is decided, the shutter control section 105generates a control command for closing the shutter 220 to the decidedtarget position. The shutter control section 105 generates a controlcommand corresponding to the decided target position. That is, theshutter control section 105 generates a control command (correspondingto an example of the distance control command) for closing the shutter220 of the electric shutter device 200 for a distance corresponding tothe amount of movement of the swipe operation by the contacting object150.

The communication control section 106 transmits the generated controlcommand to the control unit 210 of the electric shutter device 200. Theshutter control section 213 of the electric shutter device 200 receivesthe control command transmitted from the operation terminal 100 via thecommunication control section 214. The shutter control section 213controls the drive section 211 to start operation of closing the shutter220 in accordance with the received control command. The lower leftdiagram, the lower middle diagram, and the lower right diagram of FIG.11 will be described next.

As described above, the shutter control section 213 controls the drivesection 211 to start operation of opening and closing the shutter 220 inaccordance with the received control command. Specifically, operation ofopening the shutter 220 is started in FIG. 10, and operation of closingthe shutter 220 is started in FIG. 11.

At this time, actual motion of the shutter 220 is slower than motion ofthe shutter 412 a within the shutter image 412 displayed on the shuttercontrol screen 410. Thus, in the embodiment of FIGS. 10 and 11, asdescribed below, the display control section 103 displays a schematicshutter movement image 500 representing the actual position of an endportion of the shutter 220 as overlapped on the shutter 412 a within theshutter image 412 on the shutter control screen 410. In other words, thedisplay control section 103 displays the schematic shutter movementimage 500 in a region corresponding to the shutter image 412.

When the drive section 211 starts open/close operation of the shutter,the shutter control section 213 of the electric shutter device 200repeatedly acquires the result of detection of the position of theshutter 220 performed by the position sensor 212. The shutter controlsection 213 may acquire the result of detection of the position of theshutter 220 performed by the position sensor 212 at certain intervals(for example, 0.1 seconds). The shutter control section 213 generatespositional information indicating the position of the shutter 220 on thebasis of the result of detection of the position of the shutter 220performed by the position sensor 212 at each acquisition of thedetection result. The positional information may be a numerical valuerepresenting the proportion at which the shutter 220 is closed with thefully closed state defined as 100% and the fully open state defined as0%, for example. In this case, the positional information on the shutter220 which is halfway closed as in the upper middle diagram of FIG. 11,for example, is 50%.

Each time the shutter control section 213 generates positionalinformation indicating the position of the shutter 220, thecommunication control section 214 transmits the generated positionalinformation to the operation terminal 100. When it is determined on thebasis of the result of detection of the position of the shutter 220performed by the position sensor 212 that the target position for theshutter 220 included in the control command is reached, the shuttercontrol section 213 controls the drive section 211 so as to stopopen/close operation of the shutter 220.

The display control section 103 of the operation terminal 100 receivesthe positional information indicating the position of the shutter 220and transmitted from the electric shutter device 200 via thecommunication control section 106. The display control section 103displays the schematic shutter movement image 500 representing theactual position of the end portion of the shutter 220 as overlapped onthe vehicle image 413 on the shutter control screen 410 as shown in thelower left diagram of FIG. 10, for example, on the basis of the receivedpositional information. The display control section 103 displays theschematic shutter movement image 500 representing the actual position ofthe end portion of the shutter 220 as overlapped on the shutter 412 awithin the shutter image 412 on the shutter control screen 410 as shownin the lower left diagram of FIG. 11, for example, on the basis of thereceived positional information.

In FIG. 10, the position of a lower end 500D of the schematic shuttermovement image 500 corresponds to the actual position of the end portionof the shutter 220 moving in the opening direction. In FIG. 11, theposition of a lower end 500D of the schematic shutter movement image 500corresponds to the actual position of the end portion of the shutter 220moving in the closing direction.

The display control section 103 may display the schematic shuttermovement image 500 in a color that is different from those of theshutter 412 a and the vehicle image 413 (red if the shutter 412 a isbrown and the vehicle image 413 is white, for example) and translucentlyon the display 101, for example. In FIG. 10, for example, the schematicshutter movement image 500 and the vehicle image 413 may be synthesizedby alpha blending. In FIG. 11, for example, the schematic shuttermovement image 500 and the shutter 412 a may be synthesized by alphablending.

Consequently, in FIG. 10, the schematic shutter movement image 500 andthe vehicle image 413 can be distinguished from each other bycolor-coding. In FIG. 11, meanwhile, the schematic shutter movementimage 500 and the shutter 412 a can be distinguished from each other bycolor-coding. In FIGS. 10 and 11, the schematic shutter movement image500 is indicated by dots.

Each time the positional information indicating the position of theshutter 220 and transmitted from the electric shutter device 200 isreceived, the display control section 103 displays the schematic shuttermovement image 500 as updated on the basis of the received positionalinformation. For example, in the case where the positional informationis received from the electric shutter device 200 every 0.1 seconds, thedisplay control section 103 displays the schematic shutter movementimage 500 as updated every 0.1 seconds.

Consequently, in FIG. 10, the position of the lower end 500D of theschematic shutter movement image 500 is raised corresponding to theactual position of the end portion of the shutter moving in the openingdirection (the lower left diagram to the lower middle diagram of FIG.10). In FIG. 11, meanwhile, the position of the lower end 500D of theschematic shutter movement image 500 is lowered corresponding to theactual position of the end portion of the shutter moving in the closingdirection (the lower left diagram to the lower middle diagram of FIG.11).

As a result, the actual position of the shutter 220 which graduallyopens and closes is represented in the schematic shutter movement image500 on the shutter control screen 410. Then, when the position of theshutter 220 represented by the schematic shutter movement image 500reaches the target position (the fully open position in FIG. 10, and thefully closed position in FIG. 11), the display control section 103erases the schematic shutter movement image 500 from the shutter controlscreen 410 as shown in the lower right diagram of FIG. 10 and the lowerright diagram of FIG. 11.

The schematic shutter movement image 500 between the state in which theshutter is fully closed and the state shown in the lower left diagram ofFIG. 10, the schematic shutter movement image 500 between the statesshown in the lower left diagram and the lower middle diagram of FIG. 10,and the schematic shutter movement image 500 between the states shown inthe lower middle diagram and the lower right diagram of FIG. 10 are notshown. In addition, the schematic shutter movement image 500 between thestate in which the shutter is fully open and the state shown in thelower left diagram of FIG. 11, the schematic shutter movement image 500between the states shown in the lower left diagram and the lower middlediagram of FIG. 11, and the schematic shutter movement image 500 betweenthe states shown in the lower middle diagram and the lower right diagramof FIG. 11 are not shown.

In the embodiment, as has been described above, the display controlsection 103 displays the schematic shutter movement image 500representing the actual position of the end portion of the shutter 220on the shutter control screen 410. Thus, the user can confirm the actualposition of the shutter 220 without going to see the shutter 220 in thegarage 310. In addition, the display control section 103 displays theshutter image 412 representing the target position for opening andclosing of the shutter on the shutter control screen 410 in addition tothe schematic shutter movement image 500. Thus, the user can easilyunderstand the difference between the target position and the currentposition of the shutter 220. In the embodiment, the schematic shuttermovement image 500 corresponds to an example of the state informationrepresenting the position of the end portion of the shutter of theelectric shutter device.

The mode of representation of the actual position of the end portion ofthe shutter 220 on the shutter control screen 410 is not limited to theschematic shutter movement image 500. Another display example in whichthe actual position of the end portion of the shutter 220 is representedon the shutter control screen 410 will be described below.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a display example of the shutter controlscreen 410 which is different from FIG. 10 and in which the actualposition of the shutter is displayed when opening the shutter. FIG. 13is a diagram showing a display example of the shutter control screen 410which is different from FIG. 11 and in which the actual position of theshutter is displayed when closing the shutter. The upper left diagram,the upper middle diagram, and the upper right diagram of FIG. 12 are thesame as the upper left diagram, the upper middle diagram, and the upperright diagram, respectively, of FIG. 10. In addition, the upper leftdiagram, the upper middle diagram, and the upper right diagram of FIG.13 are the same as the upper left diagram, the upper middle diagram, andthe upper right diagram, respectively, of FIG. 11.

As described above, the display control section 103 of the operationterminal 100 receives the positional information indicating the positionof the shutter 220 and transmitted from the electric shutter device 200via the communication control section 106. The display control section103 displays a position display mark 501 (the lower left diagram and thelower middle diagram of FIG. 12) representing the actual position of theend portion of the shutter 220 as overlapped on the vehicle image 413 onthe shutter control screen 410 on the basis of the received positionalinformation. In addition, the display control section 103 displays aposition display mark 502 (the lower left diagram and the lower middlediagram of FIG. 13) representing the actual position of the end portionof the shutter 220 as overlapped on the shutter 412 a within the shutterimage 412 on the shutter control screen 410 on the basis of the receivedpositional information.

As shown in the lower left diagram of FIG. 12, the position display mark501 for a case where the shutter is opened is constituted of an arrowextending upward from the lower end of a region corresponding to theshutter image 412 on the shutter control screen 410. In FIG. 12, theposition of an upper end 501U of the position display mark 501corresponds to the actual position of the end portion of the shuttermoving in the opening direction.

As shown in the lower left diagram of FIG. 13, the position display mark502 for a case where the shutter is closed is constituted of an arrowextending downward from the upper end of a region corresponding to theshutter image 412 on the shutter control screen 410. In FIG. 13, theposition of a lower end 502D of the position display mark 502corresponds to the actual position of the end portion of the shuttermoving in the closing direction.

Each time the positional information indicating the position of theshutter 220 and transmitted from the electric shutter device 200 isreceived, the display control section 103 displays the position displaymark 501 (the lower left diagram to the lower middle diagram of FIG. 12)and the position display mark 502 (the lower left diagram to the lowermiddle diagram of FIG. 13) as updated on the basis of the receivedpositional information. For example, in the case where the positionalinformation is received from the electric shutter device 200 every 0.1seconds, the display control section 103 displays the position displaymarks 501 and 502 as updated every 0.1 seconds.

As a result, the actual position of the shutter which gradually opensand closes is represented by the position display marks 501 and 502 onthe shutter control screen 410. Then, when the position of the shutterrepresented by the position display marks 501 and 502 reaches the targetposition (the fully open position in FIG. 12, and the fully closedposition in FIG. 13), the display control section 103 erases theposition display marks 501 and 502 from the shutter control screen 410as shown in the lower right diagram of FIG. 12 and the lower rightdiagram of FIG. 13.

The position display mark 501 between the state in which the shutter isfully closed and the state shown in the lower left diagram of FIG. 12,the position display mark 501 between the states shown in the lower leftdiagram and the lower middle diagram of FIG. 12, and the positiondisplay mark 501 between the states shown in the lower middle diagramand the lower right diagram of FIG. 12 are not shown. In addition, theposition display mark 502 between the state in which the shutter isfully open and the state shown in the lower left diagram of FIG. 13, theposition display mark 502 between the states shown in the lower leftdiagram and the lower middle diagram of FIG. 13, and the positiondisplay mark 502 between the states shown in the lower middle diagramand the lower right diagram of FIG. 13 are not shown.

In FIGS. 10 to 13, the display control section 103 displays an imagerepresenting the actual position of the end portion of the shutter 220as overlapped on the shutter 412 a within the shutter image 412 on theshutter control screen 410. However, the present disclosure is notlimited thereto. The display control section 103 may not display animage representing the actual position of the end portion of the shutter220 on the shutter control screen 410.

FIG. 14 is a sequence diagram showing a process flow in the operationterminal 100 and the electric shutter device 200. First, upon receivinga request from the display control section 103, the communicationcontrol section 106 of the operation terminal 100 transmits a request toacquire the present open/close state of the shutter 220 (for example,the position of the end portion of the shutter 220) to the electricshutter device 200 (S1401). Next, when the acquisition request isreceived via the communication control section 214, the shutter controlsection 213 of the electric shutter device 200 acquires the open/closestate of the shutter 220 from the position sensor 212 (S1402).

Upon receiving a request from the shutter control section 213, thecommunication control section 214 transmits the open/close state of theshutter 220 to the operation terminal 100 (S1403). The display controlsection 103 of the operation terminal 100 receives the open/close stateof the shutter 220 via the communication control section 106. Thedisplay control section 103 displays the shutter control screen 410 onthe display 101 on the basis of the received open/close state of theshutter 220 (S1404). For example, in the case where the shutter 220 isfully open, the display control section 103 displays the shutter controlscreen 410 shown in the upper left diagram of FIG. 11 on the display101.

Next, the touch panel control section 102 of the operation terminal 100senses an operation (for example, an upward swipe operation, or adownward swipe operation) of the contacting object 150 performed by theuser on the shutter control screen 410 (S1405). Next, the displaycontrol section 103 of the operation terminal 100 moves the shutter 412a within the shutter image 412 so as to represent the target positionfor opening and closing of the shutter 220 in accordance with the amountof movement of the contacting object 150 (S1406).

In the operation terminal 100, S1405 and S1406 included in L1401 arerepeated until the touch panel control section 102 senses that thecontacting object 150 is moved away from the display 101. As a result,the shutter control screen 410 shown in the upper left diagram of FIG.10 is displayed on the display 101, for example. In this state, after aswipe operation is performed for half an amount of movement for fullyopening the shutter 220, the contacting object 150 is moved away fromthe display 101.

Then, the display control section 103 displays the shutter controlscreen 410 shown in the upper middle diagram of FIG. 10 on the display101. That is, the position of the shutter 412 a within the shutter image412 shown in the upper middle diagram of FIG. 10 is determined as thetarget position for opening of the shutter 220.

When the touch panel control section 102 senses that the contactingobject 150 is moved away from the display 101, the shutter controlsection 105 of the operation terminal 100 generates a control command inaccordance with the amount of movement of the swipe operation by thecontacting object 150. Upon receiving a request from the shutter controlsection 105, the communication control section 106 transmits the controlcommand generated by the shutter control section 105 to the electricshutter device 200 (S1407).

After receiving the control command via the communication controlsection 214 of the electric shutter device 200, the shutter controlsection 213 controls the drive section 211 on the basis of the controlcommand to perform opening operation or closing operation of the shutter220 (S1408). Next, the shutter control section 213 detects the currentopen/close state of the shutter 220 (for example, the current positionof the end portion of the shutter 220) using the position sensor 212.The shutter control section 213 generates positional informationindicating the open/close state (position) of the shutter 220 on thebasis of the detection result (S1409).

Upon receiving a request from the shutter control section 213, thecommunication control section 214 transmits the generated positionalinformation indicating the current open/close state of the shutter 220to the operation terminal 100 (S1410).

Next, the display control section 103 of the operation terminal 100displays the current open/close state of the shutter 220 on the shuttercontrol screen 410 of the display 101 on the basis of the positionalinformation received via the communication control section 106 (S1411).In S1411, the display control section 103 displays the schematic shuttermovement image 500 in the embodiment of FIGS. 10 and 11, displays theposition display marks 501 in the embodiment of FIG. 12, and displaysthe position display mark 502 in the embodiment of FIG. 13.

In the operation terminal 100 and the electric shutter device 200, S1408to S1411 included in L1402 are repeated until the open/close state ofthe shutter 220 (for example, the position of the end portion of theshutter 220) reaches the target position. Thus, display of the currentopen/close state of the shutter 220 is updated each time S1411 isexecuted.

When the open/close state of the shutter 220 reaches the targetposition, the communication control section 214 receives a request fromthe shutter control section 213, and transmits the result of control forthe shutter 220 to the operation terminal 100 (S1412). The process isthus terminated.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a process flow for the operation terminal100 to control the electric shutter device 200.

First, the display control section 103 displays the shutter selectscreen 400 on the display 101 (S1501). Subsequently, a user operationthrough contact of the contacting object 150 on the shutter selectscreen 400 is received (S1502). Next, the touch panel control section102 judges whether or not the contact target for the contacting object150 is the end button 407 (S1503).

When the touch panel control section 102 judges that the contact targetis the end button 407 (YES in S1503), the flow is terminated. When thetouch panel control section 102 judges that the contact target is notthe end button 407 (NO in S1503), on the other hand, the touch panelcontrol section 102 judges a select button of the contact target. Thedisplay control section 103 acquires the current open/close state of ashutter corresponding to the judged select button from the electricshutter device (S1504). For example, if the touch panel control section102 judges that the contact target is the select button 405A, thedisplay control section 103 acquires the open/close state of the shutter220 from the electric shutter device 200.

Next, the display control section 103 displays a shutter control screencorresponding to the select button of the contact target on the display101 (S1505). For example, in the case where the contact target is theselect button 405A, the display control section 103 displays the shuttercontrol screen 410 shown in FIG. 9 on the display 101. Subsequently, theprocess is advanced to a control flow for a shutter (FIGS. 16A and 16B)(S1506). After that, the process returns to S1501.

FIGS. 16A and 16B are flowcharts showing a flow of the process (S1506 ofFIG. 15) for the operation terminal 100 to generate and transmit acontrol command for controlling the shutter 220 of the electric shutterdevice 200.

First, the touch panel control section 102 judges whether or notselection of the return button 411 by the contacting object 150 issensed in the shutter control screen 410 (S1601). When selection of thereturn button 411 is sensed (YES in S1601), the flow is terminated. Ifselection of the return button 411 is not sensed (NO in S1601), thetouch panel control section 102 judges whether or not upward or downwardmovement of the position of contact by the contacting object 150 issensed (S1602).

If the touch panel control section 102 senses upward movement of theposition of contact by the contacting object 150 in S1602, the processis advanced to S1603. If the touch panel control section 102 sensesdownward movement, the process is advanced to S1606. If upward ordownward movement of the position of contact by the contacting object150 is not sensed (NO in S1602), the process returns to S1601.

In S1603, the display control section 103 judges, on the basis of theopen/close state acquired in S1504 of FIG. 15, whether or not theshutter 220 of the electric shutter device 200 is fully open. If theshutter 220 is fully open (YES in S1603), the process returns to S1601.If the shutter 220 is not fully open (NO in S1603), the process isadvanced to S1604.

In S1604, the display control section 103 moves the shutter 412 a withinthe shutter image 412 displayed on the display 101 so as to representthe target position for the opening shutter 220 corresponding to theamount of the upward movement (upward swipe operation) of the contactingobject 150 acquired from the touch panel control section 102 (S1604).

Next, the display control section 103 judges whether or not upwardmovement of the contacting object 150 is terminated (S1605). If theupward movement of the contacting object 150 is not terminated (NO inS1605), the process returns to S1604. If the upward movement of thecontacting object 150 is terminated in S1605 (YES in S1605), on theother hand, the process is advanced to S1611.

Thus, S1604 is executed until the upward movement is terminated. As aresult, the shutter 412 a within the shutter image 412 displayed on thedisplay 101 is updated each time S1604 is executed. The shutter 412 awithin the shutter image 412 between the states shown in the upper leftdiagram and the upper middle diagram of FIG. 10, and between the statesshown in the upper middle diagram and the upper right diagram of FIG. 10is not shown.

In S1606, the display control section 103 judges, on the basis of theopen/close state acquired in S1504 of FIG. 15, whether or not theshutter 220 of the electric shutter device 200 is fully closed. If theshutter 220 is fully closed (YES in S1606), the process returns toS1601. If the shutter 220 is not fully closed (NO in S1606), the processis advanced to S1607.

In S1607, the display control section 103 moves the shutter 412 a withinthe shutter image 412 displayed on the display 101 so as to representthe target position for the closing shutter 220 corresponding to theamount of the downward movement (downward swipe operation) of thecontacting object 150 acquired from the touch panel control section 102(S1607).

Next, the display control section 103 judges whether or not downwardmovement of the contacting object 150 is terminated (S1608). If thedownward movement of the contacting object 150 is not terminated (NO inS1608), the process returns to S1607. If the downward movement of thecontacting object 150 is terminated in S1608 (YES in S1608), on theother hand, the process is advanced to S1611.

Thus, S1607 is executed until the downward movement is terminated. As aresult, the shutter 412 a within the shutter image 412 displayed on thedisplay 101 is updated each time S1607 is executed. The shutter 412 awithin the shutter image 412 between the states shown in the upper leftdiagram and the upper middle diagram of FIG. 11 and between the statesshown in the upper middle diagram and the upper right diagram of FIG. 11is not shown.

In S1611, the shutter control section 105 generates a control commandfor opening and closing the shutter 220 to the target positioncorresponding to the amount of the upward movement or the downwardmovement of the contacting object 150 acquired from the touch panelcontrol section 102. Subsequently, the communication control section 106transmits the control command generated by the shutter control section105 to the electric shutter device 200 (S1612).

Subsequently, the communication control section 106 receives positionalinformation indicating the position (open/close state) of the shutter220, and delivers the received positional information to the displaycontrol section 103 and the shutter control section 105 (S1613). Then,the display control section 103 displays the position of the shutter 220on the basis of the received positional information (S1614). In S1614,the display control section 103 displays the schematic shutter movementimage 500 in the embodiment of FIGS. 10 and 11, displays the positiondisplay mark 501 in the embodiment of FIG. 12, and displays the positiondisplay mark 502 in the embodiment of FIG. 13.

Then, the shutter control section 105 judges, on the basis of thepositional information received in S1613, whether or not the shutter 220has reached the target position (S1615). If the shutter 220 has notreached the target position in S1615 (NO in S1615), the process returnsto S1613. If the shutter 220 has reached the target position in S1615(YES in S1615), on the other hand, the communication control section 106receives the control result transmitted from the electric shutter device200, and delivers the received control result to the shutter controlsection 105 (S1615). The flow is thus terminated.

Thus, S1604 is executed until the shutter 220 reaches the targetposition. As a result, the position of the shutter 220 displayed on theshutter control screen 410 of the display 101 is updated each time S1614is executed (for example, at intervals of 0.1 seconds).

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a process flow in the electric shutterdevice 200. First, the communication control section 214 of the electricshutter device 200 receives a control command for opening and closing ashutter transmitted from the operation terminal 100, and delivers thecontrol command to the shutter control section 213 (S1701). Then, theshutter control section 213 controls the drive section 211 in accordancewith the received control command to drive the shutter 220 (S1702).Next, the shutter control section 213 acquires the result of detectionof the open/close state (position) of the shutter 220 from the positionsensor 212 (S1703).

Next, the shutter control section 213 generates positional informationindicating the position of the shutter 220 on the basis of the result ofdetection of the open/close state of the shutter 220, and thecommunication control section 214 transmits the generated positionalinformation to the operation terminal 100 (S1704).

Subsequently, the shutter control section 213 judges, on the basis ofthe acquired detection result, whether or not the shutter 220 hasreached the target position indicated by the control command (S1705). Ifthe shutter 220 has not reached the target position (NO in S1705), theprocess returns to S1702. If the shutter 220 has reached the targetposition in S1705 (YES in S1705), on the other hand, the communicationcontrol section 214 receives a request from the shutter control section213, and transmits the control result to the operation terminal 100(S1706). The flow is thus terminated.

Thus, S1704 is executed until the shutter 220 reaches the targetposition. As a result, the positional information indicating theposition of the shutter 220 is transmitted to the operation terminal 100each time S1704 is executed (for example, at intervals of 0.1 seconds).

As described above, the shutter control section 213 judges the presenceor absence of an obstacle on the basis of the result of detectionperformed by the obstacle sensor 215. Then, if it is judged that thereis an obstacle, the shutter control section 213 controls the drivesection 211 so as not to start operation to close the shutter 220 if theshutter 220 has not started being closed, and so as to stop operation toclose the shutter 220 if the shutter 220 is being closed. Display on thedisplay 101 in this case will be described.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a display example of the shutter controlscreen 410 for a case where an obstacle is detected. The upper leftdiagram, the upper middle diagram, and the upper right diagram of FIG.18 are the same as the upper left diagram, the upper middle diagram, andthe upper right diagram, respectively, of FIG. 11. From the upper leftdiagram to the upper right diagram by way of the upper middle diagram ofFIG. 18, the display control section 103 controls display on the shuttercontrol screen 410 in the same manner as described with reference toFIG. 11.

That is, the vehicle image 413 is displayed in a region corresponding tothe shutter image 412 (the upper left diagram of FIG. 18). In thisstate, the touch panel control section 102 senses a downward swipeoperation by the contacting object 150. Then, the display controlsection 103 moves the shutter 412 a within the shutter image 412 in theclosing direction, that is, downward (corresponding to an example of thefirst direction) in accordance with the amount of movement of the swipeoperation (the upper middle diagram of FIG. 18). When the downward swipeoperation by the contacting object 150 is further continued, the shutter412 a within the shutter image 412 is fully closed, and displayed on theshutter control screen 410 as the target position for opening andclosing of the shutter (the upper right diagram of FIG. 18).

If it is judged on the basis of the result of detection performed by theobstacle sensor 215 that there is an obstacle, the shutter controlsection 213 controls the drive section 211 so as to stop operation ofthe shutter 220, and generates stop information. The stop informationincludes information indicating that operation of the shutter 220 hasbeen stopped. The stop information also includes information indicatingthe position at which the shutter 220 is stopped. Upon receiving arequest from the shutter control section 213, the communication controlsection 214 transmits the stop information generated by the shuttercontrol section 213 to the operation terminal 100.

When the stop information from the electric shutter device 200 isreceived via the communication control section 106, the display controlsection 103 of the operation terminal 100 returns the fully closedshutter 412 a (the upper right diagram of FIG. 18) within the shutterimage 412 displayed on the shutter control screen 410 in the openingdirection, that is, upward (corresponding to an example of the seconddirection) to a half open position as indicated by an arrow mark 415 inthe lower left diagram of FIG. 18. The arrow mark 415 is provided toindicate that the shutter 412 a within the shutter image 412 is returnedin one stroke from the fully closed position to the half open position.The arrow mark 415 is not displayed on the shutter control screen 410.

Further, the display control section 103 finely vertically vibrates theshutter 412 a within the shutter image 412. The display control section103 repeatedly moves a lower end 412D of the shutter 412 a within theshutter image 412 alternately upward and downward. As a result, thedisplay state of the shutter control screen 410 alternately transitionsbetween the states shown in the lower left diagram and the lower rightdiagram of FIG. 18.

If an obstacle is detected before start of movement of the shutter 220,the shutter 412 a within the shutter image 412 which has been fullyclosed as shown in the upper right diagram of FIG. 18 by downwardmovement of the contacting object 150 is immediately returned to a halfopen position as shown in the lower left diagram of FIG. 18. Therefore,the shutter 412 a within the shutter image 412 bounces. Thus, the usercan be alerted by the vibration of the shutter 412 a within the shutterimage 412 that operation of the shutter 220 is not normal, rather thanthat the display 101 is out of order.

In the case where the shutter 412 a within the shutter image 412 isvibrated, the display control section 103 does not display an image (theschematic shutter movement image 500 in FIG. 11, and the positiondisplay mark 502 in FIG. 13) representing the actual position of theshutter 220. The width of the vibration may be a width of 5% in terms ofthe numerical value of the positional information, for example. Thewidth of the vibration may be decided as such a value that allows theuser to definitely recognize the vibration. The period of the vibrationmay be 0.5 seconds, for example. The period of the vibration may bedecided as such a value that allows the user to easily see thevibration.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a display example of the shutter controlscreen 401 that is different from FIG. 18 for a case where an obstacleis detected. The upper left diagram, the upper middle diagram, and theupper right diagram of FIG. 19 are the same as the upper left diagram,the upper middle diagram, and the upper right diagram, respectively, ofFIG. 11 (FIG. 18).

In the embodiment of FIG. 19, as in the embodiment of FIG. 18, when thestop information is received from the electric shutter device 200 viathe communication control section 106, the display control section 103returns the fully closed shutter 412 a (the upper right diagram of FIG.19) within the shutter image 412 displayed on the shutter control screen410 to a half open position (the lower left diagram of FIG. 19).

Further, the display control section 103 displays an alerting mark 600on the shutter control screen 410 (the lower left diagram of FIG. 19).Furthermore, as in the embodiment of FIG. 18, the display controlsection 103 finely vertically vibrates the shutter 412 a within theshutter image 412 as indicated by a vibration mark 601 (the lower rightdiagram of FIG. 19).

The vibration mark 601 in the lower right diagram of FIG. 19 is intendedto represent the fine vertical vibration of the shutter 412 a within theshutter image 412. Upward and downward arrows and wavy lines included inthe vibration mark 601 are not displayed on the shutter control screen410. In FIG. 19, in addition, the alerting mark 600 is displayed, andtherefore the display control section 103 may not vibrate the shutter412 a within the shutter image 412.

FIGS. 20 to 23 are sequence diagrams showing a process flow in theoperation terminal 100 and the electric shutter device 200 for a casewhere obstacle detection is taken into consideration.

The sequence diagrams will be described for three patterns. A firstpattern corresponds to a sequence in which an obstacle is not detected.In the first pattern, the shutter 220 is closed to the target position.For the first pattern, the sequence diagram of FIG. 20 is followed bythe sequence diagram of FIG. 21.

A second pattern corresponds to a sequence in which an obstacle isdetected while the shutter 220 is being closed. In the second pattern,operation of closing the shutter 220 is started. When an obstacle isdetected, however, the shutter 220 stops being driven, and an alarmindication of the obstacle is displayed. In the case where the obstaclesensor 215 is of an optical type, the second pattern corresponds to acase where an obstacle appears when the shutter 220 is closed halfway.In the case where an obstacle is detected by the obstacle sensor 215 ofa contact type, the sequence for the second pattern is used. For thesecond pattern, the sequence diagram of FIG. 20 is followed by thesequence diagram of FIG. 22.

A third pattern corresponds to a sequence in which an obstacle is firstdetected by the obstacle sensor 215 of an optical type. In the thirdpattern, an alarm indication to the obstacle is displayed before theshutter 220 is closed, and operation of closing the shutter 220 is notstarted. In the case where the obstacle sensor 215 is of a contact type,the sequence for the third pattern is not used. For the third pattern,the sequence diagram of FIG. 20 is followed by the sequence diagram ofFIG. 23. As described above, FIG. 20 is common to the first to thirdpatterns.

First, a process flow in the first pattern in which an obstacle is notdetected will be described with reference to FIGS. 20 and 21. S2001 toS2007 of FIG. 20 are the same as S1401 to S1407, respectively, of FIG.14. L2001 including S2005 and S2006 of FIG. 20 are the same as L1401including S1405 and S1406 of FIG. 14. It should be noted, however, thatit is assumed that in the first to third patterns, the position of theshutter 220 detected in S2002 of FIG. 20 is not the fully closedposition, the operation performed in S2005 is a downward swipeoperation, and the control command transmitted in S2007 is a command forclosing the shutter 220.

The shutter control section 213 of the electric shutter device 200receives a control command transmitted in S2007 of FIG. 20 via thecommunication control section 214, and controls the drive section 211 onthe basis of the received control command so as to close the shutter 220(S2101). Next, the shutter control section 213 judges the currentopen/close state of the shutter 220 using the result of detectionperformed by the position sensor 212, and generates positionalinformation indicating the open/close state (position) of the shutter220 (S2102).

Subsequently, upon receiving a request from the shutter control section213, the communication control section 214 transmits the generatedpositional information indicating the current open/close state of theshutter 220 to the operation terminal 100 (S2103). Next, the displaycontrol section 103 of the operation terminal 100 displays the currentopen/close state of the shutter 220 on the shutter control screen 410 ofthe display 101 on the basis of the positional information received viathe communication control section 106 (S2104).

Subsequent S2105 to 52108 are the same as S2101 to S2104, respectively.Operation in S2101 to S2104 is repeated every certain period (forexample, 0.1 seconds). Then, in S2109, the shutter control section 213detects on the basis of the result of detection performed by theposition sensor 212 that the shutter 220 has reached the targetposition, and stops operation of the drive section 211. Next, uponreceiving a request from the shutter control section 213, thecommunication control section 214 transmits the result of control forthe shutter 220 to the operation terminal 100 (S2110).

Next, a process flow in the second pattern in which an obstacle isdetected while the shutter 220 is being closed will be described withreference to FIG. 22.

The shutter control section 213 of the electric shutter device 200receives a control command transmitted in S2007 of FIG. 20 via thecommunication control section 214, and controls the drive section 211 onthe basis of the received control command so as to close the shutter 220(S2201). S2201 to S2204 are the same as S2101 to S2104, respectively.Subsequent S2205 to S2208 are also the same as S2101 to S2104,respectively. Operation in S2201 to S2204 is repeated every certainperiod (for example, 0.1 seconds).

In S2209, the shutter control section 213 of the electric shutter device200 judges on the basis of the result of detection performed by theobstacle sensor 215 that there is an obstacle. In addition, the shuttercontrol section 213 stops operation of the drive section 211. Next, inS2210, upon receiving a request from the shutter control section 213,the communication control section 214 transmits stop informationindicating that drive of the shutter 220 has been stopped because ofdetection of an obstacle to the operation terminal 100.

Next, in S2211, the display control section 103 of the operationterminal 100 displays an image alerting the user on the shutter controlscreen 410 of the display 101 on the basis of the stop informationreceived via the communication control section 106. In the embodiment ofFIG. 18, for example, the display control section 103 verticallyvibrates the shutter 412 a within the shutter image 412. In theembodiment of FIG. 19, for example, the display control section 103displays the alerting mark 600 in a region corresponding to the shutterimage 412.

Next, a process flow in the third pattern in which an obstacle is firstdetected by the obstacle sensor 215 of an optical type will be describedwith reference to FIG. 23.

The shutter control section 213 of the electric shutter device 200receives the control command transmitted in S2007 of FIG. 20 via thecommunication control section 214. In subsequent S2301, however, theshutter control section 213 judges on the basis of the result ofdetection performed by the obstacle sensor 215 that there is anobstacle. Thus, the shutter control section 213 does not cause operationof the drive section 211 although a control command has been received.Subsequent S2302 and S2303 are the same as S2210 and S2211,respectively, of FIG. 22.

FIGS. 24A and 24B are flowcharts showing a flow of the process (S1506 ofFIG. 15) for the operation terminal 100 to control the shutter 220 ofthe electric shutter device 200 for a case where an obstacle is takeninto consideration.

S2401 to S2408 of FIG. 24A are the same as S1601 to S1608, respectively,of FIG. 16A. S2411 and S2412 of FIG. 24A are the same as S1611 andS1612, respectively, of FIG. 16B.

In S2421 which follows S2412, the shutter control section 105 judgeswhether or not the communication control section 106 has received stopinformation from the electric shutter device 200. If the communicationcontrol section 106 has not received the stop information in S2421 (NOin S2421), the process is advanced to S2422. If the communicationcontrol section 106 has received the stop information in S2421 (YES inS2421), on the other hand, the process is advanced to S2425.

In S2422, the communication control section 106 receives positionalinformation indicating the position of the shutter 220, and delivers thereceived positional information to the display control section 103 andthe shutter control section 105 (S2422). Then, the display controlsection 103 displays the position of the shutter 220 on the shuttercontrol screen 410 on the basis of the received positional information(S2423). In S2423, the display control section 103 displays theschematic shutter movement image 500 in the embodiment of FIGS. 10 and11, displays the position display mark 501 in the embodiment of FIG. 12,and displays the position display mark 502 in the embodiment of FIG. 13.

Then, the shutter control section 105 judges, on the basis of thepositional information received in S2422, whether or not the shutter 220has reached the target position (S2424). If the shutter 220 has notreached the target position in S2424 (NO in S2424), the process returnsto S2421. If the shutter 220 has reached the target position in S2424(YES in S2424), on the other hand, the flow is terminated.

In S2425, the display control section 103 judges, on the basis of thepositional information received in S2422 or S1504 of FIG. 15, whether ornot the actual shutter is closed to a position at which the shutter isclosed beyond 70% (S2425). If the actual shutter is closed to a positionat which the shutter is closed beyond 70% (YES in S2425), the displaycontrol section 103 returns the shutter 412 a within the shutter image412 being displayed to a position of 70% (S2426), and the process isadvanced to S2428. If the actual shutter 220 is closed to a position of80%, for example, the display control section 103 returns the shutter412 a within the shutter image 412 being displayed in the openingdirection (corresponding to an example of the second direction) by anamount of 30% (corresponding to an example of the second predeterminedamount).

If the actual shutter is not closed to a position at which the shutteris closed beyond 70% (NO in S2425), on the other hand, the displaycontrol section 103 returns the shutter 412 a within the shutter image412 being displayed to the actual position (S2427), and the process isadvanced to S2428. If the actual shutter 220 is closed to a position of60%, for example, the display control section 103 returns the shutter412 a within the shutter image 412 being displayed in the openingdirection (corresponding to an example of the second direction) by anamount of 40% (corresponding to an example of the first predeterminedamount).

In S2428, the display control section 103 displays an alerting mark 600on the shutter control screen 410. Next, the display control section 103finely vertically vibrates the position of the shutter 412 a within theshutter image 412 (S2429), and the process returns to S2401. In theembodiment of FIG. 18, S2428 may be omitted. In the embodiment of FIG.19, in addition, S2429 may be omitted.

The loop of S2421, S2422, S2423, and S2424 of FIG. 24B corresponds to acase where there is not an obstacle. The path of S2421, S2425, S2426,S2428, and S2429 of FIG. 24B corresponds to a case where an obstacle isdetected when the shutter 220 is closed to a position at which theshutter 220 is closed beyond a predetermined reference amount (in FIG.24B, 70%, for example). The path of S2421, S2425, S2427, S2428, andS2429 of FIG. 24B corresponds to a case where an obstacle is detectedwhen the shutter 220 is closed to a position at which the shutter 220 isclosed by the predetermined reference amount (in FIG. 24B, 70%, forexample) or less (including before the shutter 220 starts moving).

In FIG. 24B, if the actual shutter 220 is not closed to a position atwhich the shutter is closed beyond 70% (NO in S2425), the displaycontrol section 103 returns the shutter 412 a within the shutter image412 being displayed to the actual position (S2427). That is, the displaycontrol section 103 returns the shutter 412 a within the shutter image412 to a position at which the shutter 220 has been stopped because ofdetection of an obstacle.

It should be noted, however, that if the shutter 412 a within theshutter image 412 were returned to a position at which the shutter 220has been stopped without exception, the width of the return of theshutter 412 a within the shutter image 412 on the shutter control screen410 would be small in the case where the obstacle is small. As a result,the user might not notice that the shutter 412 a within the shutterimage 412 was returned.

Thus, in FIG. 24B, if the actual shutter 220 is closed to a position atwhich the shutter is closed beyond the predetermined reference amount(in FIG. 24B, 70%, for example) (YES in S2425), the display controlsection 103 returns the shutter 412 a within the shutter image 412 beingdisplayed to a position of the predetermined reference amount (in FIG.24B, 70%, for example) (S2426). This makes it easier for the user tonotice that the shutter 412 a within the shutter image 412 has beenreturned. The predetermined reference amount of 70% is exemplary, andthe predetermined reference amount may have a different value such as60%.

In FIG. 24B, the shutter 412 a within the shutter image 412 beingdisplayed is returned to a position of 70% (S2426) or the actualposition at which the shutter 220 has been stopped (S2427), depending onthe actual position at which the shutter 220 has been stopped. However,the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, as describedwith reference to FIG. 18, the shutter 412 a within the shutter image412 may be returned to a half open position (50%) without exceptionirrespective of the actual position at which the shutter 220 has beenstopped.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing a process flow in the electric shutterdevice 200 for a case where an obstacle is taken into consideration.

First, the communication control section 214 of the electric shutterdevice 200 receives a control command transmitted from the operationterminal 100, and delivers the control command to the shutter controlsection 213 (S2501). Then, the shutter control section 213 acquires theresult of detection performed by the obstacle sensor 215 (S2502). Next,the shutter control section 213 judges, on the basis of the result ofdetection performed by the obstacle sensor 215, whether or not there isan obstacle (S2503). If there is an obstacle in S2503 (YES in S2503),the process is advanced to S2504. If there is not an obstacle (NO inS2503), the process is advanced to S2505.

In S2504, the shutter control section 213 controls the drive section 211so as to stop the shutter 220 if the shutter 220 is moved. In S2504, inaddition, upon receiving a request from the shutter control section 213,the communication control section 214 transmits stop informationindicating that movement of the shutter has been stopped to theoperation terminal 100. Then, the flow is terminated.

S2505 to S2507 are the same as S1702 to S1704 of FIG. 17. Subsequent toS2507, the shutter control section 213 judges, on the basis of theposition of the shutter 220 acquired in S2506, whether or not theshutter 220 has reached the target position indicated by the controlcommand (S2508). If the shutter 220 has not reached the target position(NO in S2508), the process returns to S2502. If the shutter 220 hasreached the target position in S2508 (YES in S2508), on the other hand,the flow is terminated.

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing an example, different from FIG. 9, of ashutter control screen 410 displayed on the display 101 of the operationterminal 100. The shutter control screen 410 shown in FIG. 26 is anoperation screen that allows performing an open/close operation for theshutter 230 of the electric shutter device 201. As described withreference to FIG. 4, the shutter 230 is used as a storm sash provided atthe window 320.

The shutter control screen 410 includes a return button 411, and ashutter image 421 representing the shutter 230 of the electric shutterdevice 201. The shutter image 421 includes a shutter 421 a. In addition,a text “LIVING ROOM SHUTTER” is affixed to the shutter control screen410 in FIG. 26. This allows the user to easily understand that thescreen is a control screen for a shutter used as a storm sash providedat the window.

When the user selects the select button 405B with a contacting object(for example, one finger of the user) in the shutter select screen 400shown in FIG. 8, the touch panel control section 102 senses theselection. Then, as shown in FIG. 26, the display control section 103displays the shutter control screen 410 corresponding to the selectbutton 405B on the display 101.

Moreover, when the user selects the return button 411 with thecontacting object in the shutter control screen 410 shown in FIG. 26,the touch panel control section 102 senses the selection. Then, thedisplay control section 103 returns the display on the display 101 tothe shutter select screen 400 shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 27 is a diagram showing an example of display on the shuttercontrol screen 410 and an example of an operation by a contacting object150 when opening the shutter 230. FIG. 28 is a diagram showing anexample of display on the shutter control screen 410 and an example ofan operation by the contacting object 150 when closing the shutter 230.

First, an operation of opening the shutter 230 of the electric shutterdevice 201 will be described with reference to FIG. 27. The shutterimage 412 in which the shutter 412 a is fully closed is displayed (theleft diagram of FIG. 27). In this state, the touch panel control section102 senses an upward swipe operation by the contacting object 150 (forexample, one finger of the user) on the shutter control screen 410 (theleft diagram to the middle diagram of FIG. 27).

Then, the display control section 103 moves the shutter 421 a within theshutter image 421 in the opening direction in accordance with movementof the contacting object 150 (the middle diagram of FIG. 27). At thistime, the display control section 103 displays a window image 422representing the window 320 which has been hidden behind the shutter ina region corresponding to the shutter image 421 as the shutter 421 awithin the shutter image 421 is opened.

In the middle diagram of FIG. 27, the lower half of the window image 422has appeared. In order to achieve image display such as that in themiddle diagram of FIG. 27, for example, the shutter 421 a within theshutter image 421 may be provided in a first layer, the window image 422may be provided in a second layer, and the order of priority for imagedisplay of the first layer may be made higher than that of the secondlayer.

Further, if the upward swipe operation by the contacting object 150 iscontinued, the touch panel control section 102 senses the swipeoperation (the middle diagram to the right diagram of FIG. 27). Then,when the shutter 421 a within the shutter image 421 is fully open, thedisplay control section 103 erases the shutter 421 a, and displays thewindow image 422 representing the entire window (the right diagram ofFIG. 27).

When the touch panel control section 102 senses an upward swipeoperation by the contacting object 150 on the shutter control screen410, the shutter control section 105 generates a control command(corresponding to an example of the movement control command) foropening the shutter 230 of the electric shutter device 201. At thistime, the shutter control section 105 decides the target position forthe opening shutter on the basis of the amount of movement of the swipeoperation by the contacting object 150.

When the user finishes the upward swipe operation in the state shown inthe middle diagram of FIG. 27, for example, the shutter control section105 decides a position at which the shutter is half open as the targetposition for the opening shutter. In this case, the display controlsection 103 renders the shutter 421 a within the shutter image 421 halfopen as shown in the middle diagram of FIG. 27. Display of the shutter421 a allows the user to easily understand the target position for theshutter.

When the user finishes the upward swipe operation in the state shown inthe right diagram of FIG. 27, for example, the shutter control section105 decides a position at which the shutter is fully open as the targetposition for opening and closing of the shutter. In this case, thedisplay control section 103 erases the shutter 421 a within the shutterimage 421 as shown in the right diagram of FIG. 27 to indicate that thetarget position for opening and closing of the shutter is the fully openposition.

When the target position is decided, the shutter control section 105generates a control command for opening the shutter 230 to the decidedtarget position. The shutter control section 105 generates a controlcommand corresponding to the decided target position. That is, theshutter control section 105 generates a control command (correspondingto an example of the distance control command) for opening the shutter230 of the electric shutter device 201 for a distance corresponding tothe amount of movement of the swipe operation by the contacting object150.

The communication control section 106 transmits the generated controlcommand to the control unit 210 of the electric shutter device 201. Theshutter control section 213 of the electric shutter device 201 receivesthe control command transmitted from the operation terminal 100 via thecommunication control section 214. The shutter control section 213controls the drive section 211 to start operation of opening the shutter230 in accordance with the received control command.

Next, an operation of closing the shutter 230 of the electric shutterdevice 201 will be described with reference to FIG. 28. The shutterimage 421 in which the shutter is fully open is displayed, and thewindow image 422 representing the entire window is displayed in a regioncorresponding to the shutter image 421 (the left diagram of FIG. 28). Inthis state, the touch panel control section 102 senses a downward swipeoperation by the contacting object 150 on the shutter control screen 410(the left diagram to the middle diagram of FIG. 28).

Then, the display control section 103 moves the shutter 421 a within theshutter image 421 in the closing direction in accordance with movementof the contacting object 150 (the middle diagram of FIG. 28). At thistime, the display control section 103 hides the window image 422displayed in the region corresponding to the shutter image 421 behindthe shutter 421 a as the shutter 421 a within the shutter image 421 isclosed (the middle diagram of FIG. 28).

In the middle diagram of FIG. 28, the upper half of the window image 422is hidden behind the shutter 421 a. In order to achieve image displaysuch as that in the middle diagram of FIG. 28, as described above, forexample, the shutter 421 a within the shutter image 421 may be providedin a first layer, the window image 422 may be provided in a secondlayer, and the order of priority for image display of the first layermay be made higher than that of the second layer.

Further, if the downward swipe operation by the contacting object 150 iscontinued, the touch panel control section 102 senses the swipeoperation (the middle diagram to the right diagram of FIG. 28). Then,when the shutter 421 a within the shutter image 421 is fully closed, thedisplay control section 103 erases the window image 422 (the rightdiagram of FIG. 28).

When the touch panel control section 102 senses a downward swipeoperation by the contacting object 150 on the shutter control screen410, the shutter control section 105 generates a control command(corresponding to an example of the movement control command) forclosing the shutter 230 of the electric shutter device 201. At thistime, the shutter control section 105 decides the target position forthe closing shutter on the basis of the amount of movement of the swipeoperation by the contacting object 150.

When the user finishes the downward swipe operation in the state shownin the middle diagram of FIG. 28, for example, the shutter controlsection 105 decides a position at which the shutter is half closed asthe target position for the closing shutter. In this case, the displaycontrol section 103 renders the shutter 421 a within the shutter image421 half closed as shown in the middle diagram of FIG. 28.

When the user finishes the downward swipe operation in the state shownin the right diagram of FIG. 28, for example, the shutter controlsection 105 decides a position at which the shutter is fully closed asthe target position for the closing shutter. In this case, the displaycontrol section 103 renders the shutter 421 a within the shutter image421 fully closed as shown in the right diagram of FIG. 28.

When the target position is decided, the shutter control section 105generates a control command for closing the shutter 230 to the decidedtarget position. The shutter control section 105 generates a controlcommand corresponding to the decided target position. That is, theshutter control section 105 generates a control command (correspondingto an example of the distance control command) for closing the shutter230 of the electric shutter device 201 for a distance corresponding tothe amount of movement of the swipe operation by the contacting object150.

The communication control section 106 transmits the generated controlcommand to the control unit 210 of the electric shutter device 201. Theshutter control section 213 of the electric shutter device 201 receivesthe control command transmitted from the operation terminal 100 via thecommunication control section 214. The shutter control section 213controls the drive section 211 to start operation of closing the shutter220 in accordance with the received control command.

As described above, the shutter control section 213 controls the drivesection 211 to start operation of opening and closing the shutter 230 inaccordance with the received control command. Specifically, operation ofopening the shutter 230 is started in FIG. 27, and operation of closingthe shutter 230 is started in FIG. 28. At this time, actual motion ofthe shutter 230 is slower than motion of the shutter 421 a within theshutter image 421 displayed on the shutter control screen 410. Thus, asin the embodiment of FIGS. 10 to 13, the display control section 103 maydisplay an image representing the actual position of an end portion ofthe shutter 230 as overlapped on the shutter 421 a within the shutterimage 421 on the shutter control screen 410.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present disclosure provides a useful control method for controllingan electric shutter device connected to a network.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for controlling an informationapparatus, the information apparatus having a touch panel display andbeing connected to a network, an electric shutter device beingcontrolled over the network, the electric shutter device being capableof opening and closing a shutter through a remote operation, theelectric shutter device has a sensor which senses an obstacle ahead ofan end portion of the shutter as it moves, and a controller which stopsmovement of the shutter when the obstacle is sensed ahead of the endportion of the shutter as it moves, the method causing a processor ofthe information apparatus to: display an operation icon on a displayscreen of the information apparatus, the operation icon causing anoperation screen for the electric shutter device to be displayed;display the operation screen for the electric shutter device whenselection of the operation icon is sensed, the operation screenincluding a shutter image representing the shutter of the electricshutter device; when a swipe operation is sensed on the operationscreen, output to the network a movement control command for moving theshutter of the electric shutter device in a swipe direction of the swipeoperation, and move the shutter represented in the shutter image inaccordance with a swipe amount in the swipe direction of the swipeoperation, wherein movement of the shutter represented in the shutterimage results in a changed representation of an object hidden by theshutter represented in the shutter image when the shutter image is in aclosed position; and when stop information, which indicates thatmovement of the shutter of the electric shutter device has been stoppedbefore the shutter reaches a closed position, is received via thenetwork, and when the shutter represented in the shutter image is variedinto a closed state, return the shutter represented in the shutter imagein a second direction opposite to a first direction which is a movingdirection of the shutter represented in the shutter image.
 2. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein a distance control command is output tothe network as the movement control command when the swipe operation issensed on the operation screen, the distance control command causing theshutter of the electric shutter device to move in the swipe direction adistance in accordance with an amount of movement in the swipe directionof the swipe operation.
 3. The method according to claim 1, whereinmovement of the shutter of the electric shutter device comprises amovement to open the shutter of the electric shutter device or amovement to close the shutter of the electric shutter device.
 4. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein the electric shutter device has theshutter which opens or closes in one direction.
 5. The method accordingto claim 1, wherein the shutter represented in the shutter image isreturned in the second direction by a first predetermined amountcorresponding to a stop position of the shutter of the electric shutterdevice, indicated by the stop information.
 6. The method according toclaim 5, wherein when the shutter represented in the shutter image isreturned in the second direction by the first predetermined amount, theend portion of the shutter represented in the shutter image isrepeatedly moved alternately in the first direction and the seconddirection.
 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein when the stopinformation indicates that the shutter of the electric shutter device isclosed beyond a predetermined reference amount, the shutter in theshutter image is returned in the second direction by a secondpredetermined amount.
 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein whenthe shutter represented in the shutter image is returned in the seconddirection by the second predetermined amount, the end portion of theshutter represented in the shutter image is repeatedly moved alternatelyin the first direction and the second direction.
 9. The method accordingto claim 1, wherein the object comprises a representation of a vehicle.